THE flagship Cumberland Show once again cast its spell over visitors last Saturday.

Folk who otherwise wouldn’t step foot near a cow, sheep or tractor for the rest of the year got nose to nose with the region's thriving rural sector.

Thousands descended on the Showfield at Warwick-on-Eden, near Carlisle,with organisers declaring it a record-breaking event.

County shows have had to adapt with the times, and this year the first agricultural show in the 2024 calendar did just that by encompassing a large range of family-friendly activities that appeal to a wider audience.

But at its heart it is still primarily an agricultural show, educating visitors about where their food comes from and how their rural surroundings are managed.

Alongside local produce to taste and buy, the show also held demonstrations of centuries-old-skills - hedgelaying, sheep shearing and dry-stone walling.

It was jam-packed with a huge array of events, from the tug-of-war competitions to the vaulting pony club games, and not forgetting the age-old tradition of Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling.

Show president, Ian Lancaster, whose family have had a close connection with the show since the 1960's said: This show provides a great family day out allowing us to meet old friends and make new ones against the backdrop of friendly competitive rivalry from our exhibitors and competitors."

Joint chairperson, Linda Dodd, said organisers had been worried about what the weather would bring, but on the day the only rain that fell was a short, sharp shower that said Linda "was over in seconds".

While the show didn't reached the sizzling heights of 2023, car parks overflowed and organisers prayed they wouldn’t run out of parking space, while shuttle buses to the showground were quickly filled to capacity.

“Wow, what a show day,” said operations and development secretary, Gillian Potts. “It has definitely broken all records.

Over in the Home Industries marquee, chairwoman, Karen Sisson, reported high numbers of entries from both the public and local schools. "Standard is high and entries are definitely up on last year. It's been a marvellous day."

Lloyd Ltd dealer principal, John Marston said: "The show is definitely buzzing. Lovely atmosphere and we are proud to sponsor the show."

For a full list of the show winners, you can pick up a copy of this week's Cumberland News.